Security tightens at proposed Uranium mining areas, one injured

Shillong, June 9 (UNI) As differences on the issue of uranium mining in Meghalaya widens, security has been beefed up in the Nongbah Jynrin area in West Khasi Hills district of the state, where a proposed public hearing on the matter is scheduled to take place on June 12.

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board's (MSPCB) has decided to hold a public hearing after the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had proposed to develop an open cast mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Uranium ore and processing project at the Mawthabah.

Three companies of state police have already been deployed at Nongbah Jynrin and its other adjoining villages to ensure smooth conduct of the hearing amid protests from anti-Uranium mining lobbies, including three regional allies of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.

''Adequate security measures have been taken to ensure smooth conduct and to cordon off the site of the public hearing,'' West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Freeman Kharlyngdoh told UNI here over the phone from Nongstoin.

Mr Kharlyngdoh said deployment of security personnel in the areas was necessitated after assessing the overall law and order situation in the area, especially when some section of the villagers had a divided opinion on the issue of uranium mining.

The powerful Khasi Student's Union, which is spearheading the anti-uranium mining movement in the state for over a decade, has termed the holding of public hearing to facilitate mining of Uranium in West Khasi Hills district.

The KSU has also sponsored a 36-hour bandh, which would be effective in Shillong from 0500 hours of June 11 to 1700 hours on June 12 to protest Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) public hearing.

UNI